Will these critters be endangered by the Gulf gusher?

These congresscritters are top recipients of contributions from the oil and gas sector — and some of its most vocal supporters, even in the face of a catastrophically unpopular oil leak. Might the Gulf-spill mess threaten their survival? Well, don’t bet on it … 

Photo: Republican Conference via Flickr

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas)

“I’m ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday. I think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation [BP] can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown — in this case a $20 billion shakedown.”
— June 17, 2010  

Barton has received more than $1.4 million from the oil and gas industry since 1989.

(Check out more choice words from Barton.)